SF Bay Area Kilties Games/Training #1

[Alan H]

OK, so the first of the X-Marks, Bay Area contingent, Heavy Events Training Shebang went off today, and was a solidsuccess.

MANY thanks to Bill from driving in from the Central Valley to get us started right. Bill brought the weights for distance/height and a hammer. I brought a couple of 16 lb stones and my sort-of caber.

TimC and CaptainJak came out to throw, and a couple of TimC's friends from his Shinty group showed up as well. I showed up and didn't make too much of a fool of myself, and WalkerK and the Amazing Madalyn came and shot pictures.

The field was soft from the recent rains, but we didn't tear it up too badly, and the rain held off all afternoon. In fact, it was a really nice afternoon.

OK, from a personal perspective, here's how it went.

Putting the 16 lb stone: I did shot put in high school, though I specialized in discus, and even competed in some Masters events, throwing discus about 10 years ago. However, gripping a stone is a WHOLE different game from holding a shot, and I wound up flinging the thing a lot more UP than OUT. A bit more practice will cure that. Maybe in a month or two I can think about sliding across the trig again. I figure I'm happy with my mid-20-feet throws for a first outing, and standingon one place.

Weight for Distance: we just did the 22 pound weight, as we all agreed that 22 pounds flung us around enough as it is, Lord knows what the 42 was gonna do. I've never done this before, but Bill did a couple of demos, and what the heck. The first time 'round I let the weight yank me pretty badly off-center and gave my back a bit of a jerk, but the second and third throws were much better. Now, if I can just keep my mass centered, guide the weight instead of trying to muscle it around, I'm good to go. We didn't step these off but I'm thinking I was shoving the 22'er out there in the mid-30's?

Weight for Height: Bill pointed out the difference in linkage between the handle/weight for the weight for distance and weight for height. OK, so we changed the linkages over and watched him do it twice. Then I stepped up. I've actually done this one before, so it felt pretty natural. After we all had a go, I walked over to a bunch of (beefy) chin-up bars that were on the field, just to have the feel of having a bar over me. The consensus was that I put it a foot or two above the top of the chin-up posts, so that's somewhere around 13 - 13.5 feet. Sounds good to me, and the thing didn't even land on me head on the way down!

Caber: My "caber" is..the term Bill used was a "dead stick"...meaning a balanced piece of wood. It's just a pressure-treated 6 x 6, 12 feet long. I cut off the sharp corners and surformed it to round 'em off a bit. It weighs about 70-75 pounds. Apparently a dead stick is a lot harder to end-for-end than a real caber. Who knew? Well, sheesh, I couldn't even pick the thing, even with four tries at it. I got closer each time, but no go. TimC got one good pick and a good looking throw which Bill said would have end-for-ended a real caber. I dunno....this is gonna take some work. I might make a 50-pounder just to try the whole thing with something a little less heavy so I can get the feel for it.

Hammer: Bill brought a 16 lb hammer...three 5 lb weights on a 4 foot piece of ABS pipe and a LOT of duct tape. Watching him flail that thing around while he showed us what to do was a bit intimidating.... but then I'm known to be just plain stupid, so what the heck! After one throw, just a single spin and hurl that went OK, I tried two more with two-spins before the launch. The last one felt really natural and I got good extension through the last radius and ALMOST kept my balance. It flew out there pretty good, though I foot-faulted. I paced it off and I'm thinking it was about 48 feet....not bad for a first go.

All in all it was a huge success. My back is a bit sore tonight, but not bad...gotta keep at those weights and do about eighteen million ab crunches!

[Yaish]

Alan, there is a trick to picking the caber. Rather than trying to muscle the weight yourself, you let the caber's own weight lift itself, using your shoulder as a fulcrum.

Get yourself as low as possible, interlock your fingers and force yourself down til your fingers are just at the bottom edge of the caber, with the knife edge of your palms against the very bottom side of the caber.

The caber should be balanced, but not completely upright. You actually want it leaning back about five degrees, just enough to keep some pressure on your shoulder.

Stand upright and lift at the same time, letting the weight of the upper end of the caber "pull" the bottom off the ground, with your hands controlling and guiding it.

Now this is the tricky part, you have to slip your hands under the caber at the same time as all this is happening.

Hold the caber with your elbows bent, and your torso leaning forward, the caber balanced upright against your shoulder. Your hands should be just about sternum level as you carry it.

Now the key to a good turn is not to throw too late. Most people make the mistake of waiting until the caber is too far forward. Really, unless the caber is very light you have to toss it before it passes forward of your ear.

Get a nice little run up going, "pop" to a stop and as soon as the caber comes off your shoulder, immediately HEAVE it with everything you have, from your arms, shoulders, back, hips, and legs. You should end throw bent backwards in a "C" with your arms in the air above you, and HOPEFULLY a perfect "12" on your throw.

[walkerk]

Pictures over here:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=22820

[David Dalglish]

Great pictures walkerk, looked like a fun day

[Splash_4]

Looks like you guys (and girl) had a blast! Thanks for the pics as well, it added to your story above.

[TimC]

So, Alan....we got some time before the season starts. Are we going to make a show at one of the smaller games just for S & G's??

-Tim

[Alan H]

So, Alan....we got some time before the season starts. Are we going to make a show at one of the smaller games just for S & G's??

-Tim

OH yeah! I'm aiming for Woodland and Livermore and possibly Campbell, and Ben Lomond. I don't think they'll let us throw, except for Comedy Hour, at Pleasanton. Maybe I'll have the weekend free for Woodland in April, I hope so.

Woodland...April
Livermore...May
Campbell...June

Ben Lomond...October

And that's *plenty*!

BTW, I checked with the Groundskeeper at Holbrook-Palmer park in Atherton and they're cool with us using the field for pratice. There's no fee and no form for me to fill out. There also isn't a throwing cage, but that's OK. We all just give each other a seriously wide berth when we crank up the hammer.

[Bil]

Sounds like you've pretty much got the season all planned out. I am probably waiting until the Rhino Games and follow that up with Modesto in June... let me know if you guys want to throw again. I have time off around the holidays and can make another trip out there.